Sports News

Editorials this Week

UNHRC resolution on Palestinians’ self-determination right

Written by JPNN

Saturday, 28 March 2015 09:18

JPNN/Shreerupa Mitra Jha / Geneva / Mar 27, 2015/The 47-member UN Human Rights Council today adopted a resolution on the Palestinian people's right to self-determination with 45 countries, including India, voting in its favour.Out of the 47 UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) members, 45 voted in favour with only the US voting against the resolution and Ghana abstaining.Permanent Observer of the state of Palestine to the United Nations Office at Geneva Ibrahim Khraishi stated, "In talking of self determination we are talking about a legal value of great importance...My delegation is ready to cooperate with the delegation of Israel, the occupying force, to submit a draft of self-determination
that will be a common text of the Council if the delegation of Israel believes that the Palestinian people are entitled to self-determination. ""We all heard what the Prime Minister of Israel said on the 16th of March and promised in the electoral programme that if re-elected he would prevent the two state solution and resist the idea of any withdrawal of land occupied in 1967 and continue to steal land and build settlements on it. No further explanation is needed," he said.Pakistan, the sponsor of the text, speaking on behalf of the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member-states stated that "the realisation of the right to self-determination is an essential condition for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.""The resolution also reaffirms the support for two state solution -- Palestine and Israel -- living side by side in peace and security," said Zamir Akram, the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN Offices in Geneva.There are currently four resolutions under Agenda Item 7 Human Rights Situation in Palestine and Other Occupied Arab Territories which has been a permanent item since the genesis of the UNHRC.

The four resolutions, directed at Israel, are -- Human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan, Right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan and Human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.India voted in favour of all the four resolutions while the US voted against all the resolutions under Agenda Item 7.The voting pattern on three resolutions was the same -- 45 in favour with the US against and Ghana abstaining but on the resolution on human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan 29 voted in favour, one against and 17 abstentions.The US, in an explanation of the vote, said it believes that the only way to solve the conflict between Palestine and Israel to achieve "comprehensive peace" was to create two states since status quo is not sustainable.The US also said, "We remain troubled by the Council's stand-alone agenda item directed against Israel. Only Israel receives this treatment. Such singling out undermines the credibility of the Council."It urged the members to vote 'no' for all the resolutions against Israel. All the resolutions, however, were adopted with thumping majority.Agency

Add comment

Slides

Slides of The Week

Spotlight

Spotlight

President Pranab Mukherjee confers the Padma Vibhushan to Amitabh Bachchan, left, during a civil investiture ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, in New Delhi on 8-4-15. - AP Photo/ Manish Swarup

US President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama fold their hands in Namaste gesture before their departure from Air Force Station Palam in New Delhi on 27-1-15. - PTI Photo/ Manvender Vashist

British Prime Minister David Cameron with US actress Angelina Jolie, Special Envoy of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, on the doorstep of Cameron's official residence at 10 Downing Street following their meeting in central London on June 11-6 - 2014:-AP/PTI

Cartoon

Cartoon of The Week

Quote

Quote of the Week

To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved.George MacDonald

Live Healthy!

The controversy around Nestle's Maggi noodles has caused panic throughout the nation and it doesn't look like it will die down any time soon.

After the initial test results by Uttar Pradesh Department of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) showed harmful levels of monosodium glutamate (MSG) and lead in Maggi, various states across India and even Bangladesh conducted tests on Maggi to find out whether the food product is safe or not.

The controversy around Maggi has led to tests being conducted across the country.

The entire controversy began when the UP FDA last month asked Nestle India to withdraw a batch of Maggi noodles "which were manufactured in February 2014" after it found high levels of added MSG, a taste enhancer, in the noodles and lead beyond permissible limits.